Origins of the Vasireddy Family And Their Relations with the Niyogi Brahmins in the Krishna-Guntur region.
This is a short post on the origins of one of the greatest rulers of the Telugu country, the Vasireddy Zamindars of the Krishna-Guntur region. One of the most Dharmic families to rule in the Telugu land.
The Vasireddy family, a warrior zamindari family who fought for the Hindu Dharma of the Kamma caste were brought from Nandigama by the Manuri Rao, a warrior zamindari family of the Niyogi Brahmin caste.
To be of assistance to them in their fight to protect the people of the region from foreign invasion and for maintaining internal social order.
The Manuri Rao was one of the oldest zamindari Niyogi Brahmin warrior clans of the Guntur region, having handed over the responsibility by Akkanna and Madanna themselves. They were the oldest zamindari family in the Guntur region along with the Velamavaru Manika Rao family.
By the 1690s, due to infighting amongst themselves in the Manuri Rao family. Their power declined. While the Vasireddy clan picked up the responsibility of defending Dharma and administration and expanded.
The greatest ruler of the Vasireddy clan, Shri Vasireddy Venkatadri Nayudu Garu was assisted by an able Niyogi Brahmana Minister Mulugu Papayaradhya Sastry Garu.
Vasireddy Venkatadri Nayugu Garu built many temples across the Guntur- Krishna Delta region in his times. Raja Vasireddi Garu gave twice his weight of Gold and Silver to Telugu Brahmins of that region. He also gave an offering to the Ex-Peshwa Bajirao Ji.
Such was the amazing nature of mutually respectful and loving relations the Vasireddy Clan had with Niyogi and Vadika Brahmanas of the Guntur region. And the loving relations the larger Kamma community held with the Niyogi Brahmanas of that region.
The following are my opinions after reading through the historical works listed below.
REFERENCES:
Census of India, 1961 Vol II, Andhra Pradesh. Guntur District Fairs and Festivals.
The Administration of Guntur District by Robert Eric Frykenberg.
A Manual of the Kistna District in the Presidency of Madras By Gordon MacKenzie
